Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a window restrictor, and in particular, a

cable lock window restrictor.

[0002] A window restrictor is a device fitted to a window which restricts the opening of the window to a selected distance. Window restrictors are generally used as a safety device to allow the window to be only partially opened for air flow purposes whilst also preventing a person such as a small child from accidentally falling out. It also serves to enhance security by preventing any undesirable visitors, such as a burglar, from climbing through.

[0003] A commonly used window restrictor is a cable lock. The cable lock typically includes a body portion connected to either the fixed window portion or the movable window portion, and a cable portion connected to the other of the fixed or movable window portion. In use, the length of the cable portion limits the window opening.

[0004] One shortcoming of the current cable locks is that when the cable lock is in the locked position, and the window is closed, the cable bulges in towards the room. This is bulky, unattractive, and may get in the way of window furnishings such as curtains or blinds.

[0005] Another shortcoming of the current cable locks is that when the cable lock is in the unlocked position, allowing the window to be freely opened (beyond the restricted distance allowed by the cable), the cable portion is left hanging, either from the fixed window portion or the movable window portion. This can be unsightly and may also interfere with any blinds or shutters. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] For a more complete understanding of the invention and the advantages thereof, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs designate like parts, and in which:

[0007] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a window restrictor according to the present invention;

[0008] Figures 2, 3 and 4 show parts of a cable housing portion of the window restrictor of Figure 1; and

[0009] Figures 5 and 6 show a cable receiving portion of the window restrictor of Figure 1.

[0010] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate a particular embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood with reference to the following detailed description.

[0011] It will be appreciated that common and/or well understood elements that may be useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are not necessarily depicted in order to facilitate a more abstracted view of the embodiments. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale relative to each other. It will also be understood that certain actions and/or steps in an embodiment of a method may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrences while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required.

Description of Embodiments

[0012] Figures 1 to 6 show a window restrictor, in the form of a cable lock 10 in accordance with the present invention. The cable lock 10 includes a first part in the form of a cable housing portion 12 and a second part in the form of a cable receiving portion 14.

The cable housing portion 12 has a semi-circular shaped upper body portion 16 and a rectangular lower body portion 18. The upper body portion 16 houses a rewind mechanism 20 for a retractable cable 21. A base plate 22 is attached to the lower body portion 18 using fasteners, such as screws 24. The cable housing portion 12 is attachable to either the moving frame or the fixed frame of a window (not shown) using fasteners, such as screws 26 inserted through holes 28 at either end of the lower body portion 18 and corresponding holes 30 in the base plate 22.

[0013] The rewind mechanism 20 is spring-loaded within the upper body portion 16 to allow the cable 21 to be pulled out of the cable housing portion 12 and then retract back in as necessary. The rewind mechanism 20 includes a spool, or spinning wheel 32 and a coil strip spring 34. The retractable cable 21 coils around the spinning wheel 32 during storage in the cable housing portion 12. The spring 34 is attached to the spinning wheel 32 at one end by looping over a wheel post 40 extending from the spinning wheel 32 and attached at the other end to a plate 36 having a hook 38 for receiving the spring 34. A positioning post 92 in the centre of the plate 36 is inserted through a hole 42 in the centre of the spinning wheel 32 so that the spring 34 is positioned between the plate 36 and the spinning wheel 32. The plate 36 is then rotated to tighten the spring 34, and the spinning wheel 32 and the plate 36 are then inserted along guide rails 44 (see Figures 2 and 3) within the upper body portion 16 of the cable housing portion 12. The guide rails 44 provide a barrier necessary for the spring 34 to retain tension required to coil.

[0014] The retractable cable 21 is extendable through an opening 48 in the cable housing portion 12. One end of the retractable cable 21 is attached to a stopper, or a bullet head locking pin 46 which protrudes from the opening 48 in the cable housing portion 12. The bullet head locking pin 46 is sized and shaped to prevent it from retreating into the cable housing portion 12 and may include a rounded, or bull-nosed head portion 90 and a countersunk, or concave portion 84 to facilitate attachment to the cable receiving portion 14. The locking pin 46 is designed to be received into an opening, or recess 50 in the cable receiving portion 14 thus connecting the cable housing portion 12 and the cable receiving portion 14 via the retractable cable 21.

[0015] The cable receiving portion 14 includes a base plate 68 which is fastened to a lower body portion 66 using fasteners, or screws 70 inserted through holes, or apertures 72. The lower body portion 66 includes two holes, or apertures 52 at either end designed to receive a fastener, such as a screw 54 to attach the cable receiving portion 14 to either the moving or fixed part of the window frame (whichever one the cable housing portion 12 was not attached to).

[0016] The cable receiving portion 14 includes a locking mechanism 64 for retaining, or locking, the locking pin 46 of the retractable cable 21 therein. The locking mechanism 64 includes a locking plate 60 operatively associated with a key operated cylinder lock 56. A locking spring 62 traversing the locking plate 60 and an inner receptacle 88 moulded within the cable receiving portion 14 is biased to urge the locking plate 60 toward the recess 50 such that it protrudes partially through the recess 50 in the default locked position (see Figure 6).

[0017] To lock the retractable cable 21 within the cable receiving portion 14, the locking pin 46 is inserted within the recess 50, forcing the locking plate 60 away from the recess 50 until the locking plate 60 engages the concave portion 84 thus preventing further movement, thereby locking the retractable cable 21 within the cable receiving portion 14 so that the cable 21 is in the locked/engaged position. In the locked/engaged position the window is restricted to opening only the length of the cable 21.

[0018] The cable lock 10 is released, or unlocked, using the locking mechanism 64. The locking mechanism 64 is a typical tumbler lock, having a lock barrel 56 housed within a cylindrical upper body portion 82 of the cable receiving portion 14 and an associated key 58. The locking mechanism 64 includes a series of pin tumblers 74 and springs 76 configured to restrict rotation of the lock barrel 56. The bottom edge of the lock barrel 56 is connected to a cog 68 (Figure 5) such that turning the key 58 in the locking mechanism 65 will turn the lock barrel 56 and the cog 68. This will in turn, push the locking plate 60 sideways, away from the locking pin 46 allowing the locking pin 46 to be released, or withdrawn, from the cable receiving portion 14. Once the locking pin 46 is released, the cable 21 is retracted back into the cable housing portion 12 such that the locking mechanism 64 is in the unlocked/unrestricted position. When the key 58 is removed from the locking mechanism 64 tension on the locking spring 62 is released, and the locking spring 62 urges the cog 68 back into its original position and the locking plate 60 protrudes within the recess 50. A spring loaded retaining wafer 78 holds the lock barrel 56 in place by protruding from the lock barrel 56 and forming a barrier ledge that extends over the lock barrel hole to prevent its removal.

[0019] Although specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0020] It will also be appreciated that in this document the terms "comprise",

"comprising", "include", "including", "contain", "containing", "have", "having", and any variations thereof, are intended to be understood in an inclusive (i.e. non-exclusive) sense, such that the process, method, device, apparatus or system described herein is not limited to those features or parts or elements or steps recited but may include other elements, features, parts or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, the terms "a" and "an" used herein are intended to be understood as meaning one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. Moreover, the terms "primary", "secondary", etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on or to establish a certain ranking of importance of their objects.